The federal government has assured that it is not resting on its oars as far as providing adequate security on Nigerian territorial waters is concerned.
This assurance was given at a ceremony in Lagos last week by the Minister of transport, Alhaji Yusuf Suleiman when he gathered maritime industry stakeholders together to join the rest of the world in celebrating the world maritime day.
The theme of this year’s celebration according to the International maritime organization (IMO) is: “2010 the year of the seafarers”. The occasion was witnessed by all heads of parastatals in the ministry of transport, marine engineers, master mariners as well as representations from the IMO.
Speaking at the occasion, Suleiman acknowledged piracy and robbery at sea as some of the major challenges that are faced by seafarers globally, even as he gave assurances that the Nigerian government is doing its best to provide adequate security within the nation’s territorial waters.
The issue of piracy and armed robbery on the high seas are major problems that continue to confront our seafarers; the Nigerian government is deeply concerned with the problem of piracy and armed robbery against ships on our territorial waters”, he said.
The minister also identified the Integrated Maritime Security and Surveillance Centre and the Long Range Identification and Tracking System as some of the means which his administration is already exploring to address the scourge of piracy and sea robbery on Nigerian waters.
He further disclosed that “the Maritime Organization of West and Central Africa has set up the sub-regional coast guard network with Nigeria as the Zonal headquarters, this is aimed at reinforcing cooperation between member states in the face of mounting problems of piracy, armed robbery and other illicit acts against ships and shipping”.
Also speaking at the event, IMO Secretary General Mr. Efthimios Mitropoulos who was represented by the Deputy Director and Head, Program Management Technical Cooperation Division of IMO, Mr.Juvenal Shiundu explained the rational behind the selection of the theme for this year’s celebration, saying that it is a way of identifying and appreciating the roles and efforts of seafarers in the maritime business.
He explained that it is based on the new amendment made to the STCW and code and the resolutions adopted by the Manila conference in June this year.
Speaking further, the secretary general mandated that the theme must be celebrated yearly by all member nations saying that “the unique contributions made by seafarers all over the world to international seaborne trade, the world economy and civil society as a whole should from now on be marked annually with a ‘day of the seafarers’, to be held on 25 June of each years”.
He however advised all lawmakers, government officials and political office holders to focus more attention on developing the maritime sector especially the seafarers, he advised them to aim at striking “a fair balance in all of your actions concerning seafarers so that they do not become scapegoats caught up in the aftermath of accidents and incidents, treat them fairly and decently as they deserve every empathy and compassion”.
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